Florida DNP Program

Florida is among more than five states with the most Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs in the country. Currently, there are 11 DNP programs in Florida, and this number is expected to grow in the following years as the AACN is pushing to change the necessary degree level for advanced practice. As advanced practice moves from the MSN to DNP in 2015, more colleges and universities are likely to move toward offering this degree.

Though there are many DNP programs in Florida, they all have a similar mission. These programs aim to promote the highest possible level of clinical practice. The intended outcome is to prepare nurses to be leaders in healthcare through practice, administration, and policy, and to further the expertise of advanced practice.

Admission Requirements

Admissions requirements also vary between Florida colleges and universities, with some being stricter than others. Despite variations, there are also many similarities. The following are common requirements:

BSN or MSN from CCNE or NLN accredited program

Official transcripts

Proof of national certification

Minimum 3.0 or higher GPA

Graduate or undergraduate-level research course or project (depending on entry-point)

Current RN license

Successful completion of a statistics course in the past 5 years

Essay/scholarly writing

Three letters of recommendation

Personal interview

GRE or MAT required for some programs

Proof of English proficiency

Florida licensure or eligibility for licensure

Curriculum and Degree Requirements

Florida DNP programs vary in terms of length and curriculum. Some have only one entry-point for post-master's applicants, and others offer entry to those with a BSN or MSN. Barry University and NOVA Southeastern University, for example, offer the DNP only to those who have already earned a master's degree. NOVA's DNP curriculum consists of 36 with 1000 required post-BSN clinical hours. Barry University is another example of this, offering a two-year, 38 credit post-MSN program with a capstone project. This program also requires students to complete a total of 1000 graduate supervised clinical hours before earning the degree.

Other colleges and universities, such as Florida State University and the University of Miami, offer the DNP to post-bachelor's and post-master's applicants. The former has a 90 credit BSN-DNP curriculum and allows post-MSN students to transfer up to 42 credits towards the DNP. The University of Miami offers a 38 credit, one year program for post-MSN students, as well as a BSN-DNP Nurse Anesthesia track.

Tuition

Tuition also differs depending on the program. Not all Florida DNP programs list tuition information clearly, and it is subject to change. University of Miami lists tuition at $13,300 per full-time semester for the one year program option that is completed in two semesters. NOVA states that the current cost of tuition is $750 per credit hour.